RTE 17
The 12-acre Union Chemical Company, Inc. site began operations in 1967 as a formulator of paint and coating strippers. In 1969, the company expanded its operations and began handling and recovering petrochemical-based solvents. In 1976, the company received a state permit for an underground disposal system (a septic system) for its process wastewater. In 1979, as part of the recovery process, the company added a fluidized bed incinerator to burn contaminated sludges, still bottoms, and other undetermined hazardous wastes. Some of these types of waste were burned in an on-site boiler that provided heat and operating power to the facility. In anticipation of receiving approval for expansion of the incinerator, the company accepted additional spent solvents. Between 1979 and 1984, the plant was cited by the State for deficiencies or violations of several operating licenses. The State closed the waste treatment operations in 1984. The incinerator expansion was not approved and the company was unable to process all the spent solvents. At the time the State closed the waste treatment operations approximately 2,000 drums and 30 liquid storage tanks containing hazardous waste were stored on the site. The on-site soil and groundwater contamination resulted from a combination of leaking stored drums and spills and the use of the permitted septic system for disposal of the process wastewater. There are approximately 200 people living within a 1/2-mile radius of the site. These residents depend on groundwater for domestic use. The site is bounded by Quiggle Brook to the east and is partially in the 100-year flood plain. Although Grassy Pond is less than 1 mile east of the site and serves as an alternate drinking water source serving approximately 22,800 people in the Towns of Camden, Rockport, Rockland, and Thomaston, it is in a different watershed than the Union Chemical Site
368 |
People living within a 1 mile radius |
$58,532 |
Average Income |
146 |
Occupied homes |
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